You are invited to participate in this survey regarding experiences of weight stigma. Also known as weight bias and weight-based discrimination, weight stigma is the discrimination or stereotyping based on a person’s body size. I am a graduate student at the UConn School of Social Work, and I am conducting this survey as part of my independent study. I am interested in finding out how individuals have experienced weight stigma in their own lives and how significantly these experiences have impacted their own body image and self-esteem.
Your participation in this study will require completion of the following survey: https://uconn.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_eRHiKy0UGYXcp4p
This should take approximately ten to fifteen minutes of your time. Your participation will be anonymous, and you will not be contacted again in the future. You will not be paid for being in this study. This survey should involve minimal risk to you, although the questions in this survey involve sharing personal experiences and perceptions of yourself that may trigger unpleasant memories or feelings. If you take this survey and experience such feelings, we recommend seeking assistance from one of many available resources, including The Crisis Text Line (Text CONNECT to 741741), Connecticut Mental Health Crisis Intervention Services (Dial 2-1-1), and The Recovery Village Eating Disorder Hotline (877-377-6323). In terms of benefits, you might find it empowering to share your own experiences of weight stigma and help address the sociocultural issue of idealizing thinness.
You do not have to be in this study if you do not want to be. You do not have to answer any question that you do not want to answer for any reason. We will be happy to answer any questions you have about this study. If you have further questions about this project or if you have a research-related problem, you may contact me, Isabella Randazzo at isabella.randazzo@uconn.edu or my advisor, Dr. Brenda Kurz, Ph.D., at brenda.kurz@uconn.edu. If you have any questions about your rights as a research participant, you may contact the University of Connecticut Institutional Review Board (IRB) at 860-486-8802. The IRB is a group of people who review research studies to protect the rights and welfare of research participants.
Please complete the attached survey and submit it by March 18, 2019 at 11:59pm as the link will close at that time. Thank you for your interest and participation!
Sincerely,
Isabella Randazzo
UConn School of Social Work
For more information, contact: Isabella Randazzo at isabella.randazzo@uconn.edu